Passengers departing Sydney Airport on Friday, October 30, 2026 should allow extra time for security screening. Airlines are warning of planned industrial action by some Certis screening staff from 5–8 a.m. and 4:30–7:30 p.m., Sydney time (AEDT).
Virgin Australia says screening will remain open, with reduced capacity possible. The notices concern security screening; they do not announce an air traffic control strike or an airport closure.
Qantas: check the flight number and terminal
Qantas’s October 28 advisory offers change-fee waivers for eligible October 30 departures booked before October 30: Qantas-operated flights from domestic Terminal 3, or Jetstar-operated domestic flights with a Qantas flight number from Terminal 2.
Eligible travellers can move to October 29, 30 or 31, keeping the same origin, destination and cabin, subject to availability. A fare difference may apply. A waived change fee does not necessarily mean a free change.
Direct bookings can be changed through Manage Booking or Qantas; agency customers should contact their travel agent.
Jetstar: separate options for existing bookings
Jetstar’s October 28 alert warns of delays reaching departure gates at domestic T2. Existing Sydney departures booked for October 30 can be moved to an available service between October 29 and 31 at no extra cost, according to the airline.
Jetstar directs passengers to Manage Booking and suggests considering departures outside the screening-action windows. Check the policy applicable to your ticket rather than assuming Qantas and Jetstar conditions are identical.
Virgin Australia and Rex
Virgin Australia’s October 27 notice offers October 30 Sydney passengers travel on October 29 or 31. Virgin-operated services can be changed without a change fee or fare difference when rebooked in the same fare type. For partner-operated international flights marketed by Virgin, a fare difference can apply.
Virgin requires rebooking at least 60 minutes before a Virgin-operated departure, or three hours before a partner-operated international departure, subject to availability. Contact the airline or your booking agent.
Rex’s October 28 update says its check-in counters will open at 4 a.m. Friday. October 30 Sydney passengers may request an alternative Rex service to the same destination on October 29 or 31 without extra charge. A travel credit is another option; fare differences can apply when it is later used.
Before leaving for the airport
Check your departure terminal, operating airline, flight status and current advisory. Allow extra time and complete online check-in where available. Confirm an alternative seat and any remaining charges before changing other travel arrangements. These are advance warnings, not confirmation that an individual flight has been cancelled.
More: Australia aviation coverage.
Archive airport-context photograph: Sydney Airport control tower, August 11, 2023. Not security screening, the planned October 30 action or an air traffic control strike. Photo: Windmemories, own work, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and compressed to WebP; the adapted image retains the same licence.
